Aer Lingus set to open UK base

Aer Lingus is to open its first base outside Ireland in London, the company confirmed today.

Four planes operating short-haul flights will begin services from Gatwick Airport next April with plans to double in size inside 12 months.

More than 120 jobs will be created in the expansion.

Aer Lingus is currently battling a hostile takeover bid from its arch rival, budget airline Ryanair, which last month made a bold attempt to buy-out the company.

It offered to pay €747.5m for Aer Lingus, around half the sum tabled in its first failed bid two years ago.

The airline’s chief executive Dermot Mannion said the size of the new Gatwick base will grow as more aircraft are deployed.

“We are very excited at this opportunity to grow our business in Europe’s biggest aviation market and to extend our low-fares, quality offering to new travellers,” he said.

“We are offering consumers flights to top European business and leisure destinations at convenient times and competitive fares as part of a superior offering that sets us apart from our rivals.

“The Gatwick operation will complement our existing services out of London Heathrow, and position Aer Lingus for growth as we roll out new routes and bases in future years.”

Gatwick is 30 minutes from London Victoria and has access to the capital’s Underground network, as well as having direct connections to other London rail stations.

Aer Lingus will fly from the west Sussex hub to to Malaga, Munich, Nice, Vienna, Dublin, Knock, Faro and Zurich.

Aer Lingus caused massive controversy in Ireland last year when it shifted valuable Heathrow Airport slots from its Shannon base to a new operation in Belfast International Airport (BFS).